Chasing Sunsets

All my life, I have always been looking for the perfect sunrise/ sunset. There is something absolutely incredible about seeing all those colors in the sky at once. No matter what has been going on that day, what is stressing you out at the moment, or what you really should be doing instead… it can all be wiped away for just a few minutes. I don’t know when my obsession started, but I do remember being upset when I missed a good one or if I did see a good sunset, I would call anyone I could and tell them to go look. The only sad thing was that I saw them maybe once a month if I was really lucky.

Ever since I got to Union, the only reason I have missed a sunset was if I was in a meeting when it happened. Every night, I can turn my chair around to glance at the tv and always end up staring out my window watching the colors appear and then slowly disappear right behind the tower on Early Center. This scene is especially beautiful now that the leaves are off the trees and I have a better view. A lot of times, I will grab my camera and run downstairs to “chase the sunset” and get pictures. The mix of the trees, gorgeous buildings, and gorgeous sunset makes for an incredible picture.

To top off my daily sunsets, now that the leaves are gone, the sun comes into my window a little more than usual every morning. Most of the time I let a few curse words slip and groan and pull the shades just before rolling over with a pillow over my head until my alarm will no longer snooze because I hit it too many times. However, the other day, I was reaching for the blinds when I actually looked out the window instead of complaining. Just behind the trees and library, I saw the most incredible sunrise. Usually I only see the sun rise when I am up way too early and driving to Wilson to be with my sister, so this was a special treat. I wanted to grab my camera but it looked too cold to run outside in my pj’s, so I just laid there and enjoyed it for a few minutes before hopping out of bed 20 minutes before my alarm went off for the first time.

Right now, I am finishing up 12 long weeks of classes. I have over 100 pages to read by Friday, another 100 by next Tuesday, an exam due next Tuesday, and another due next Friday. I have to get new presents to replace some that were messed up. There is packing, cleaning, babysitting, teaching… basically too much for two weeks. Tomorrow I will be a reader in chapel for the first time here, and I am only mildly freaking out about helping with the service at St. Paul’s (the church where I grew up) over break. But even with all of this going on, those few minutes each evening when I can sit and stare out my window, thanking God for such an incredible gift, serve as a reminder of why I am here.

Yes, I am incredibly busy. If you ask anyone on campus if they have a free minute they might break down in tears. But we are all here for a reason. I am called to do something kinda insane with my life, but incredible. I am blessed beyond belief to have the opportunity to follow through with it in such an incredible place, where I get those sunsets I have been chasing all my life, every night.

I find it funny that when I was home everyone’s comment was about how good I looked. I will be the first to say that I am looking the way that I did when I started here. I gained back some of the weight that I lost. I have a few more gray hairs (really). I am constantly tired. But my mom reminded me of the more important thing… I am truly happy.

I blame the sunsets.